Canine compulsive disorder

Repetitive stereotypic behaviors which are performed excessively or out of context and which interfere with the dog’s ability to function normally in the environment can be termed Canine Compulsive Disorder. These behaviors include chasing or biting imaginary objects, chewing or licking and ritualistic behavior such as spinning.

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We do not usually use the term ‘obsessive’ when dealing with this disorder in dogs as we don’t have a way of knowing if the dog is obsessively thinking about its behavior. In people we would determine whether there were repetitive thought patterns simply by asking the patient. Unfortunately we can’t question dogs about their thoughts and how obsessive they are.

The most common compulsive behaviors seen in dogs include:

• Self mutilation: licking, sucking, chewing or barbering of hair at various parts of the body, usually focused on a specific body part
• Chasing or biting at lights and shadows or other stimuli which may be hallucinatory
• Ritualistic locomotory activity such as spinning, pacing, chasing
• Pica; licking or sucking at non-food items
• Repetitive atonal vocalizations
• Compulsive behavior tends to be ritualistic, meaning that the dog will perform the behavior in the same way each time. It may also be difficult to distract the dog from performing the behavior and, as the disorder takes hold, the welfare of the animal may be compromised as they are unable to focus on normal activities.

Canine compulsive disorder can run in family lines so may be passed down from one generation to another. Certain breeds may be more likely to develop the condition than others, with some studies suggesting that the breed of dog may influence the type of behavior expressed. German Shepherd dogs are associated with tail chasing, Dalmatians and Rottweilers with hallucinations such as shadow chasing, Labradors and Golden Retrievers with licking and self-mutilation and Bull terriers with tail chasing and spinning.

The problem is most commonly first noticed between one and three years of age at a time when the adolescent brain is going through changes as the dog socially matures. A barren environment or lack of opportunity to express breed specific behavior, especially while young, may also influence the development of compulsive behavior. This is because the lack of normal behaviors such as exercise or mental stimulation is likely to cause frustration, and as the dog anticipates the removal of reward such as the owner’s attention, the arousal level increases. Performing a repetitive behavior can provide some release from such an emotional state. The problem only becomes compulsive when the dog realizes that performing this repetitive behavior over and over again will reduce arousal and frustration. This feeling of relief is a powerful reward to keep performing this ritualized behavior. Unfortunately the dog eventually loses the ability to choose whether to perform the behavior, as the events that trigger the ritual become more widespread. A dog which starts to spin when left alone all day may eventually start to spin whenever the owner takes their attention away from the dog, which means they are unable to engage in normal behavior such as resting or play.

• Firstly, don’t ignore the problem, these disorders do not get better by themselves and your dog will need help to recover. The sooner you act the more likely your dog will get the help they need, and compulsive behavior which has only just started is easier to treat than long standing behavior patterns.
• Ask your veterinarian to examine your dog and check for any medical conditions that could be causing your dog to behave in this way. There could be hormonal, gastrointestinal or neurological conditions or undiagnosed sources of pain which are causing your dog to perform repetitive behaviors in an attempt to relieve discomfort.
• Keep a diary of the incidents of compulsive behavior. Make a note of the frequency and the duration of the episodes so that you can provide this information to your veterinarian and chart your dog’s recovery. Also make a note of how easy it is to interrupt the behavior and to what degree the behavior prevents the dog from normal behavior. Take a video of the dog performing the behavior over several days and compare the videos; the behavior should be ritualistic which means the dog does the same movement with his body each time.
• Consult with a veterinary behaviorist who may ask you to make some changes to your dog’s routine and how they spend their time. Your veterinary behaviorist may also recommend use of medication to help your dog to improve.
• You will need to reduce any stress that might be making the problem worse and increase opportunities to do things the dog enjoys which do not induce the problem behavior.
• For owners with young dogs who may be starting to show some occasional ritualistic behaviors they should interrupt the behavior in a non-confrontational and upbeat manner and provide lots of enrichment and opportunity to perform more normal behavior, such as foraging, herding, chasing, running or increased social opportunities.

• Don’t get cross with your dog or show any disapproval. Your dog’s behavior is not under their control, and by adding more stress to the situation you could make the behavior worse.
• Don’t just treat the outward signs of the behavior without addressing the emotional and cognitive reasons why the dog has a compulsive disorder. Removing the damaged tail will not stop the desire to chase and the dog may just switch to chasing and grabbing its back legs instead.
• Don’t try and stop the behavior if this causes your dog to react with aggression.
• Don’t do things which you know will trigger the bout of repetitive behavior.
• Don’t stop asking for help if you think your dog is not making progress to reduce their compulsive behavior. Dogs with this condition may need a lifetime of support, but the problem can be controlled and the dog’s welfare can be massively increased with the right help. The most important thing to remember is to seek help for the condition as soon as you recognize there is a problem. Early treatment can resolve problems and ensure a better quality of life for your pet.